Lasting machine



7 July 23, 1946. H. A. IMHQF LASTING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1945" 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor I Herman A. [mhof ,illllllll! H. A. IMHQFLASTIN-G MACHINE Filed Jul 18, 1945 62 July 23, 1946.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m M 0 6 4 z,

Patented July 23,1946

UNITED STATES LASTING MACHINE Herman A. Imhof, Beverly, Mass;-, assignorto United ShoeMachinery Corporation, Flemington, N. 1., a corporation ofNew Jersey Application July 18, 1945, Serial No. 605,697

12 Claims.

. This invention relates to lasting machines and particularly toside-lasting machines of the type disclosed in United States LettersPatent No. 2,201,866, issued May 21, 1940, on an application filed inthe name of R. H. Lawson, certain parts of which ar shown and describedin more detail in United States Letters Patent No. 1,854,204 and No.1,963,170, issued April 19, 1932, and June 19, 1934, respectively, onapplications also filed in the name of R. H. Lawson. It is to beunderstood, however, that the invention is not limited to machineorganizations of the character exemplified by such prior disclosures.

Machines of the type disclosed in the abovementioned patents compriselasting units arranged to operate progressively along the opposite sidesof a shoe supported on a jack as the jack is moved, automatically, toshift the shoe in a lengthwise direction relative to the lasting units.These lasting units include upper-tensioning grippers and upper-securingdevices which, during the intervals between movement of the shoe by thejack, seize and tension the upper simultaneously at opposite sides ofthe shoe, and then lay the tensioned upper inwardly, over the feather ofthe insole, and press it firmly against a rib on the insole to which thetensioned upper is secured by means of fastenings driven through theupper and the rib. Also associated with each lasting unit, is a guidinpresser-foot having a rib-engaging face provided with cavities in whichthe driven fastenings are clinched and, when the jack is being operatedto move the shoe, the, lasting units are urged apart by a spring topress these guidin presser-feet yieldingly against the opposite insidefaces of the insole rib, while the shoe is supported with its bottompressed yieldingly up against these presser-feet by a spring associatedwith the jack. Subsequently, however, when movement of the shoe hasceased, and during the operation of the lasting units, these units arelocked in the positions to which they had been previously moved, withtheir guiding presser-feet held against the ribs, and the tension of thejack spring is increased, or the jack locked, to hold the shoe bottom upfirmly against the guiding presser-feet.

As the operation of each lasting unit proceeds, the upper, after ithas'been tensioned, is laid in over the feather of the insole andpressed against the outside face of the rib by an overlaying member,through which the fastening is subsequently driven. These overlayingmembers are moved positively inward from beyond the edge of the shoe andtoward opposite inside 'faces of the-in;-

sole rib, at a slight angle to the bottom of the shoe, and, before thefastening is driven, press the upper materials firmly against the rib.Since age which might result therefrom, it has been proposed to mountthe guiding presser-feet on their respective lasting units withthecapability of yielding, to accommodate suchvariations in thickness ofthe upper materials before undue strain could be imposed on the parts,and an arrangement of this kind is shown in Patents Nos. 1,963,170 and2,201,866, mentioned-above.

While the arrangement just referred; to has proved to be whollysatisfactory, in accommodating such variations in the thickness of theupper materials as are present in the usual types of shoes, the extentof such inward yielding movement of the guiding presser-feet may, whereabnormally wide variations in the thickness of the upper materials areencountered, as may be the case at different points along the sides ofcertain types of shoes or between shoes of different kinds, becomeexcessively largeand so great as to be 30 detrimental to the lastingoperation inasmuch as it may cause deflection of thelinsole rib, underthe pressure of the overlaying member as transmitted to the rib by theinterposed layers of the upper material, far enough awayirom the correctposition in which it should be held by the ribengaging face of theguiding presser-foot to prevent the proper insertion of thefastenings.Also, since the fasteningsare clinched in cavities formed on therib-engaging faces of the guiding presserfeet, such excessive inwardyielding movement may so displace these cavities, relative to the lineof drive of the fastenings, that the fastenings will not be clinchedproperly, if at all. This inward yielding movement of the guidingpresserfeet will also be accompanied by a downward movement of the shoe,which is not free to move in a: widthwise direction, due to the factthat the overlaying members mov inwardly at a slight angle to the bottomof the shoe. As a result, where thicker upper materials are encountered,the fastenings may be driven considerably higher up in the insole ribthan is desirable.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide, in a lastingmachine of the typemen- .55 tionecl, novel and improved means foroperating prevent undue wear and the danger of part breakthe overlayingmembers 3 V which are adapted automatically to compensate for variationin the I thickness of the upper materials, from point to point along theopposite sides of a shoe, asthe I lasting operation proceeds, withoutaltering the position of the guiding presser-feet or depressing theshoe.

To this end, and in accordance with my invention, in the hereinillustrated machine in position, as above explained, and the overlayingmembers are operated by novel mechanism I including means, individual toeach overlaying member, adapted to yield when the tensioned upper hasbeen pressed, by the overlaying members, against the rib with apredetermined amount of pressure. More specifically, these yieldablemeans comprise springs which are associated with a power-operatedactuating member that is common to both of the overlaying members andthese springs are independently adjustable for varying the pressureapplied to the tensioned upper by the associated overlaying member.

The above and other objects and features of this invention will beobvious to those skilled in j the art from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the claims.

shown in Fig.1, drawn at an enlarged scale and showing the operatingmechanism of one of the 1 lasting units.

Referring to the drawings, the machine therein illustrated is in generalthe same as that dis- 4 mechanism is provided for imparting suchmovements to the lasting units during the operation of the machine whichis similar to that disclosed in these patents, and more particularlydescribed in Patents Nos. 1,854,204 and 1,963,170.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings of this application, the supportingmember 2 of eachof the lasting .units hasa cylindrical upper portion 2%)which is rotatably mounted in a sleeve-like mem- ,ber 22 and each ofthese sleeve-like members is pivotally supported on the overhangingportion I4 closed in the prior Patent No. 2,201,866 and comprises a pairof lasting units each including a 3 supporting member 2 on which ismounted a guid- :ing presser-foot 4, an upper-tensioning gripper 5, andan overlaying and upper-securing memher 8, a shoe-supporting jack I0 anda main frame structure I2. The jack I0 is exactly similar to,

and operates in the manner of, the shoe-supporting jack which isdescribedin detail in the prior patent, just referred to, and, duringthe operation of the machine, is adapted to support a shoe,

including an upper U, assembled on a last L to the bottom of which issecuredan insole I, and

to move it lengthwise, relative to the lasting unit in the mannerexplained in that patent.

The lasting units are likewise similar to those 5 disclosed in thepatent just mentioned, the uppertensioning grippers 6 of the machineshown in the accompanying drawings corresponding to wise of a shoesupported on the jack and also for turning movement about vertical axes,normal to the bottom of the shoe, in the same manner as ineach of theabove-mentioned patents, and

of the main framestructure I2 in the same manner as the correspondingelements of the lasting units disclosed in the two patents lastmentioned. The lasting units are swung, in unison, about their pivotalmountings by operating mechanism whichis'similar to that disclosed inPatent No. 1,963,170 and which includes the links 24, 25,

a lever 28 and a shaft 30. As is the case in the arrangement of themachine disclosed in the patent just mentioned, during the operation ofthe jack to move the shoe lengthwise relative to the lasting units,these units are swung away from each other, through mechanism includinga spring means, so that the guidingLpresser-feet are yieldingly heldagainst the opposite inside faces of the rib R on the insole, and,during this feeding movement of the shoe, these'units are also rotated,Within the sleeve-like members 22, by operating means which is similarto the mechanism provided for this purpose in the machines disclosed inPatents Nos. 1,854,204 and 1,963,170. In the herein illustrated machinethese mechanisms include operating links 32. At the conclusion of thefeeding movement of the shoe, and during the operation of the units totension the upper materials and to secure it to the rib R, the lastingunits are locked against swinging movement so that their guidingpresser-feet are rigidly held against the opposite inside faces of therib, by locking mechanism, not here shown, associated with the shaft 30,and similar to that disclosed in the two last-mentioned patents.

' The means for laying the tensioned upper materials in over the featherof the insole and for securing it to the insole rib at opposite sides ofthe shoe simultaneously, comprises the overlaying and upper-securingmembers 8 which correspond to the Wiper portions (I62) of the so-calledcarriers I50) of the fastening, forming, and driving mechanism disclosedand described in detail in Patent No. 1,963,170. As is explained in thatpatent, during the operation of the machine, these carriers arereciprocated, by mechanism including bell-crank levers (I provided withgear se ments (I18) that mesh with rack teeth (I75) formed on operatingslides (I'M), and, during these reciprocating movements, the fasteningis formed, the upper laid in over'the feather of the'insole and pressedagainst the insole rib, and

the fastening is driven through the upper mateof the machine of PatentNo. 1,963,170 just mentioned; That is, the bell-crank lever 40, see Fig.

2 of the drawings of this application, is provided witha gear segment 42which meshes With rack teeth 44 formed integrally in an operating slidemember 46. Each of the lasting units of the presentmachine also has-aspring-actuated driving lever 48 which by movement of the operatingslide outwardly, to the right inFig.'2, is moved into a'position toengage a latch member 50 which corresponds to the latch (200) in themachine of Patent No. 1,963,170. In these previous machines, as shown inthe last-mentioned patent and also in Patent No. 2,201,866, theseoperating slides are positively actuated by mechanism including anoperating crosshead, common to both of the lasting units, and a cammounted on a main drive shaft of the machine and the guidingpresser-feet of each lastingunit are yieldingly mounted on theircorresponding supporting members.

In the herein illustrated machine, see Fig. 2, each of the guidingpresser-feet is secured rigidly to its supporting member 2, by means ofscrews 5| and is provided with a recess 53 which, as will appear below,serves as a clinching cavity. The bell-crank lever 40 of each lastingunit is operatively connected by means of a link 52, slide 54 and link56, to a bell-crank lever 58 carried by an operating crosshead 80,common to both units. This crosshead is supported by an arm 62,

pivoted to the frame portion 14, see Fig. 1, and

also by one end of a lever 64, also pivoted to the frame member. Theopposite end of the lever 64 carries a cam roll 65 which engages a camgroove 88 of a cam 10 which is carried by a main drive shaft 12 of themachine. The arrangement so far described is similar to that in theprior patents mentioned above, and when the main drive shaft is rotatedthe crosshead 60 is moved up and down with a parallel motion eflect,produced by the arm .62 and lever B4,,which keeps the crossheadsubstantially level.

Each of the bell cranks 58 is pivoted to the crosshead on a stud 8D andhas an upwardly extending portion that is provided with a recess 82 inwhich is seated one end of a compression spring 84. The opposite end ofeach of these springs engages a plug 86 which is screwed into a threadedbore 88 in a portion 90 of the crosshead. Adjacent to the upper ends ofthese bell-crank levers the crosshead 60 is provided with oppositelyfacing abutment surfaces 92 which serve as stops for limiting theswinging movement of the bell crank 58, about their supporting studs 80,in one direction.

The herein illustrated machine operates in the same general manner asthe machines of the prior patents mentioned above, and while the shoe isbeing fed along, the lasting units are urged apart so as to hold theguiding presser-feet yieldingly against the opposite inside faces of therib R of the insole I and the unitsare rotated about vertical axes, soas to position the units properly with respect to the curving rib. Afterthe upper materials U have been tensioned at opposite sides of the shoethe crosshead 60 is moved upwardly, by the cam 10, and the overlayingmembers 8 are moved inwardly, through the action of their operatingslides 46, to lay the tensioned upper in over the feather of the insoleand to press it firmly excessive pressure can be applied orfundue strainbe imposedon the operating connections-" Dur ingv downward movement ofthecrosshea'd lillthe operating: slides 46 and overlaying. members 8will: be moved outwardly from the'shoe, to the right in Fig. 2, and thedriving levers 48 will be latched by thelatches 50, see Fig. 1. Theseout- Ward'movements are positive since the bell cranks 58 will now bearagainst the stop surfaces 92 of thecrosshead.

The upward movement of the crosshead 60 is such that, with no work inthe machine, each overlaying member will move in toward and almost intocontact with its associated guiding presserefootd. Thus, when operatingon a shoe, as these members move inwardly, the springs 84 will always becompressed somewhaiuand, regardless of wide variations in the thicknessof the upper. materials at different locations spaced along the shoe, orbetween shoes of different kinds, asubstantially uniform pressure willbe applied by' thes overlaying members and the intensity of thispressure may be readily varied to suitdifferentoperating conditions byadjustment of the screwxp-lugs .85 which, are provided with'screwedriver'slots 88 for this purpose. Moreover, since variations inthe thickness of the upper materials are accommodated by compression'ofthe springs 84, the overlaying members will move inwardly toward theshoeonly the distance determined by the upper materials and, therefore, theshoe will not be depressed. It will also bev observed that, regardlessof where either of the overlaying members stop in their inward movement,the relationship of the clinchingrecesses 53 in the guiding presser-feet-4-;to their: associated overlaying members will always remain the samesince these overlaying members move in straight paths and the guidingpresser-feet cannot shift their positions with respect to these paths.Thus fastening devices driven through these overlaying members, as

. through the driving passageways I00 formed against the outside facesof the rib at opposite sides of the shoe simultaneously. When the uppermaterials havethus been brought into contact with the rib and as theupward movement of the crosshead continues, the springs 84 will yieldand apply a measured pressdraadjustably variable by means of the screwplugs 86, to the upper materials. The springs 84 are. of a strengthsufficient to insure that the tensioned upper materials will certainlybe moved into engagement with the insole rib and into the position shownin Fig. 2 by each overlaying member but are also arranged to yieldasshown inFig. 2, before an therein. by a driver I02, see Fig. 2, willalways strike the clinching recesses 53 of the guiding presser-feetsquarely and :will, therefore, be clinched properly. As has been notedabove, the guiding presser-feet 4 are secured unyieldingly, to theirsupporting members. Hence, with the units locked against movement, theinsole rib is held firmlyinproper position and the pressure of theoverlaying members, regardless of the setting of the springs 84, cannotdeflect or move the insole .rib out of this position; all inequalitiesin the thickness of the upper materials .beingcompensated for by theoverlaying members and not by inward movement of the guidingpresser-feet. Also, since the operating means for the overlaying memberof each lasting unit is yieldable independently of, the other unit, anydifferences in the thickness of the upper materials at opposite sides ofa shoe, will be accommodated.

Having described my invention, what I 0mm shoe at the opposite sidesthereof to lay the OPPO'P.

site marginal portions of the upper over themsole and againstfitheoutside faces of said rib, and

mechanism for thus moving said overlaying mem 1 bers inwardly and towardthe rib comprising a power-operated member, common to-both over- 1laying members, and yieldable means opera tively connecting each of saidoverlaying members for movement by the power-operated member.

2. A lasting machine having, in combination, a work support arranged tocarry a shoe having a ribbed insole and an upper assembled on a last, apair of units for lasting the upper at the opposite sides of the shoe,each unit including a guid ing 'presser-foot rigidly secured thereto forengaging an inside face of the rib on the insole, a

gripper for tensioning the upper and anoverlay ing member, movableinwardly from beyond the edge of the shoe and toward the'rib on theinsole,

,member common to both units and yieldab'le means-operatively connectingeach of said overlaying members for movement by thez'iower-v operatedmember. 7

V 3.v A lasting machine having, in combination, a pair of units forlasting the opposite sides of a shoe, having a ribbed insole and uppermaterials assembled on a last, in different locations spaced lengthwiseof theshoe, progressively as the position of the shoe is shiftedrelatively to said units, eachunit including a guiding presser-fo'otrigidly secured thereto for engaging an; inside face of the rib on theinsole and an overlaying member, movable inwardly from beyond the edgeof the shoe and toward the rib on the insole,'for laying the uppermaterials in over-the feather of the insole [and for pressing thematerials against the rib,

means for separating the units so as to urge their guiding presser-feetyieldingly against the inside faces of the insole rib as the position ofthe shoe is being shifted, means for locking the units in position tohold the guiding presser-ieet unyieldingly' against the rib during theoperation of said units and the inward movement of the overlayingmembers, and mechanism for so moving the overlaying members inwardlytoward: the

insole: ribcomprising a power-operated member,

common" to both units and means for yieldingly connecting saidoverlaying members for movement by the power-operated member.

4. A lasting machine having, in combination,

a worksupport. arranged to carry a shoe having a ribbed insole and an;upper assembled one; last and movable to shift the position of the shoerelatively to lasting instrumentalities, a pair of units for lasting theupper and for securing it in lasted position to the insole rib at:opposite sides: of the shoe, in different locations spaced lengthwiseof' the shoe, progressively as the position. of the shoe is shifted,each unit including a guioing presser-footrigidly secured thereto forengaging an inside face ofithe rib? on the insole, a: gripper fortensionirfg the upper, and an overlaying member, movable inwardlybeyond: the edge ofithe shoe and toward the rib on the insole for layingthe-tensioned upper, in over the feather of the" insole and'forpressingit against the outside" face of the rib, means for, separating saidunits to hold' their guiding presser=feet yield-' ingly' against theinside faces of the insole rib while the position of the shoe is beingshifted, means for locking the units against separating movement so thatthe guiding -pre'sser feet are held unyield'ingly' against the insidefaces of the rib on the insole during the operation of the lasting unitsand the inward movement ofsaid overlaying members, and mechanism for somoving said overlaying members inwardly and toward the rib on theinsole, comprising a power--operated member common to both units andyieldable means operatively connecting each of said overlaying membersfor movement by the poweroperated member.

5. A lasting machine having, in combination, means for operating atopposite sides of a shoe to Work the opposite marginal portions of ashoe upper over a last having a ribbed insole positioned thereon, saidmeans including a pair of presser feet arranged to engage the innerfaces of said rib at opposite sides of the shoe and overlaying membersmovable inwardly, over the bottom of the shoe at the opposite sidesthereof to lay the opposite marginal portions of the upper over theinsole and against the outside faces of said rib, and means for thusmoving Said overlaying members inwardly and toward the insole ribcomprising operating mechanism associated with each overlaying member, apower-operated member common to both overlaying members, and means forconnecting said power operatedl membar to the operating mechanism ofeach overlaying member including a spring adapted to yield when thepressure exerted, by the overlay ing member, on the upper as it ispressedag'ainst the insole rib by said overlaying member, exceeds apredetermined va1ue.

6. A lasting machine having, in combination, a work support arranged tocarry a shoe having a ribbed insole and an upper assembled on a last, apair of units for lasting the upper atthe opposite sides of the shoe,each unit including a guiding presser-foot rigidly secured thereto forengaging an inside face of the rib on the insole, a gripper fortensioning the upper and an overlayingmember, movable inwardly frombeyond the edge of the shoe and toward-the rib on the insole, for layingthe tension'ed' upper in over the feather of the insole and for pressingit against the rib, means for separating the units so as to urge theirguiding presser-feet against the inside faces of the insole rib and forlocking the units in position to hold the guiding prfesser-f eetunyieldingly against the rib during the operation of said units and theinward movement .of the overlaying members, and means for so moving saidoverlaying members inwardly and toward the insole rib comprisingoperating mechanism associated with each unit, a power-operated membercommon to both units, and means for connecting said power-operatedmember to the operating mechanism of each unit including a springadapted to yield: when the pressure exerted, by the overlaying member ofthe particular unit, on the'upper as it is pressed against the insolerib by said overlaying member, exc'ee'd's a predetermined value.

7. A lasting machine having, in combination, a pair of units for lastingthe opposite sides of a shoe, having a ribbed insole and upper materialsassembled on a last, in different locations spaced lengthwise of theshoe, progressively as the position Of the S1106 is shifted relativelyto said units, each unit including a guiding presserfoot rigidly securedthereto for engaging an inside face of the rib on the insole and anoverlaying member movable, inwardly from beyond the edge of the shoe andtoward the rib on the insole, 'for laying the upper materials in overthe feather of the insole and for pressing the materials against therib, means for separating the units so as to urge their guidingpresser-feet yieldingly against the inside faces of the insole rib asthe position of the shoe is being shifted, means for locking the unitsin positionto hold the guiding presser-feet unyieldingly against the ribduring the operation of'said units and the inward movement of theoverlaying members, and means for so moving said overlaying membersinwardly and toward the insole rib comprising operating fmechanismassociated with each unit, a power-operated member common to both units,and means for connecting said power-operated member to the operatingmechanism of each unit including a spring adapted to yield when thepressure exerted, by the overlaying member of the particular unit, onthe upper as it is pressed against the insole irib by said overlayingmember, exceeds a predetermined value.

8. A lasting machine having, in combination, a work support arranged tocarry a, shoe having a ribbed insole and an upper assembled'on a lastand movable to shift the position of the shoe relatively to lastinginstrumentalities, a pair of units for lasting the upper and forsecuring it in lasted position to the insole ribs at opposite sides ofthe shoe, in different locations spaced lengthwise of the shoe,progressively as the position of the shoe is shifted, each unitincluding a guiding presser-foot rigidly secured thereto for engaging aninside face of the rib on the insole, a gripper for tensioning theupper, and an overlaying member, movable inwardly beyond the edge of theshoe and toward the rib on the insole for laying the tensioned upper inover the feather of the insole and for pressing it against the outsideface of the rib, means for separating said units to hold their *guidingpresser-feet yieldingly against the inside faces of the insole rib whilethe position of the shoe is being shifted, means for locking the unitsagainst separating movement so that the guiding presser-feet are heldunyieldingly against the inside faces of the rib on the insole'duringthe operation of the lasting units and the inward movement of saidoverlaying members, and means for so moving said overlaying membersinwardly and toward the insole rib comprising operating mechanism assocated with each unit, a power-operated member common to both units, andmeans for connecting said power-operated member to the operatingmechanism of each unit including a spring adapted to yield when thepressure exerted, by the overlaying members of the particular unit, onthe upper as it is pressed against the insole rib by said overlayingmember, exceeds a lay the opposite marginal portions of the upper overthe insole and against the outside faces of said rib, and means for thusmoving said overlaying members inwardly and toward the insole ribcomprising operating mechanism associated with each overlaying member,acrosshead movable to operate the overlaying members, a pair of bellcranklevers pivotally mounted on said crosshead, links connecting one arm ofeach of said bell-crank levers with the operating'mechanism of one ofsaid overlaying members, abutment means on said crosshead engaging theopposite arms of said bell-crank levers for limiting and swingingmovement in one direction, and spring means for normally holding saidbell-crankarms against the abutment surfaces, said spring means eachbeing "adapted to yield and'thereby arrest the inward movement of the,associated overlaying member after the upper materials have beenpressed'against the insole rib with a predetermined force. I V Y 10. Alasting machine having, in combination, a work support arranged to carrya shoe having a ribbed insole and an upper assembled on a last, a pairof units for lasting the upper at the opposite sides of the shoe, eachunit including a guiding presser-foot rigidly secured thereto for en'-gaging an inside face of the rib on the insole, a gripper for tensioningthe upper and anoverlayin member, movable inwardly from beyond the edgeof the shoe and toward the ribon the insole, for laying the tensionedupper in over the feather of the insole and for pressing it 'against therib, means for; separatingthe units so as tourge theirguiding-presser-feet against the inside faces of the insole rib and forlocking the units in position to hold the guiding presser-feetunyielding against the rib during the operation of said units and theinward movement of the overlaying members, and means for so moving saidoverlaying members inwardly and toward the insole rib, comprising.operating mechanism associated with each unit, a crosshead common toboth of the lasting units and movable to operate the overlaying members,a pair of bell-crank levers pivotally mounted on said crosshead, linksconnecting one arm of each of said bell-crank levers with the operatingmechanism of one of the lasting units, abutment means on said crossheadengaging the opposite arms of said bell-crank levers for limiting theirswinging movement in one direction, and spring means for normally holdving said bell-crank arms against the abutment surfaces, said springmeans each being adapted to yield and thereby arrest the inward movementof the assoc ated overlaying member after the upper materials have beenpressed against the insole rib with a predetermined force.

11. A lastin machine having. in combination, a pair of units for lastingthe op osite si es of a shoe, having a ribbed inso e and u per materialsassembled on a last, in diiferent locations spaced lengthwise of theshoe. progressively as the position of the shoe is shifted relatively tosaid units. each unit including a guiding presser-foot ri idly securedthereto for engaging an inside face of the rib on the insole and anoverlaying member movable, inwardly from beyond the edge of the shoe andtoward the rib on the insole, for laying the upper materials in over thefeather of the insole and for pressing the materials against the rib,means for separating the units so as to urge their guiding presser-feetyieldlngly against the 7 inside faces of the insole rib as the positionof the III shoe is being shifted, means for locking the units inposition to hold the guiding presser-feet unyieldingly against the ribduring the operation of saidlunits andvthe inward movement of theoverlaying. members, and means for so moving said overlayingmembersinwardly and toward the insole rib,vcomprising operatingmechanismassociated with each unit, a crosshead common to both of the lastingunits, and movable to operate the overlaying members, a pair ofbell-crank levers pivotally mounted on said crosshead, linksconnectingone arm of each of said bell-crank levers with the operatingmechanism of one of the lasting units, abutment means on said crossheadengaging the'opposite arms of said bellcrank levers for limiting theirswinging movement in one direction, and spring means 'for normallyholding said bell-crank arms against the abutment surfaces, said spring-means ;each being 12 A lasting machine having, in combination,

1 a worksupport arranged to carry a shoe having a ribbed insole and anupper assembled on a last i and movable to shift the position of theshoerelatively to lasting instrumentalities, a'pair of units for lastingthe upper and forsecuring it in lasted position to the insole ribatopposite sides of the 1 she, in difierentlocations spaced lengthwise ofthe shoe,'progressively as the position of the shoe is shifted,each-unit including a guiding presser- 1 foot rigidly secured theretofor engaging an'inside face of the rib on the insole, a gripper fortensioning theupper, and an overlayingmember,

12 movable inwardly beyond the edge of the shoe and toward the rib onthe insole for laying. the tensioned upper in over the feather of theinsole and for pressing it against the outside face of the rib, meansfor separating said units to hold their guiding presser-feet yieldinglyagainst the inside faces of the insole rib while the position of theshoe is being shifted, means for locking the units against separatingmovement so that the guiding presser-feet are held unyieldingly againstthe inside faces of the rib on the insole during the operation of thelasting units and the inward movement of said overlaying members, andmeans for so moving said overlaying members inwardly and toward. theinsole rib, comprising operating mechanism associated witheach unit, acrosshead'common to both of the lasting units and movable to operate theoverlaying members, a pair of bell-crank levers pivotally mounted onsaid crosshead, links connecting one arm of :each of said bell-cranklevers with the operating mechanism of one of the lasting units,abutment means on said crosshead engaging the opposite arms of saidbell-crank levers for limiting their. swinging movement inone direction,and spring means for normally holding said bell-crank arms against theabutment surfaces, said spring means each being adapted to yield andthereby arrest the inward movement of. the associated overlaying memberafter the upper materials have been pressed against the insole rib witha predeter-

